Improved cradle



UNITED STATES D. A. DUNHAM, OF PILATKA, FLORIDA.

'I MPROVED CRADLE.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 70,] 79, dated October 29, 1867.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, D. A. DUNHAM, of Pilatka, in the county of Putnam and State of Florida, have invented a new and Improved Ghilds Cradle; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 is a side' view of my improved barrel-cradle. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The design of this invention is to make a Vcheap and convenientchilds cradle of a flour or other light and clean-staved barrel, by cutting out a portion of the staves, and supporting those which are left to form the cradle with the hoops, as hereinafter more particularly described.

A represents the body of the cradle, formed of about one-half of the staves a a of a ilour or other suitable barrel, the other portion having been cut out or removed longitudinally from the barrel, leaving the hoops b b at the ends, and one or, more intermediate hoops, as desired, extending over the top, or terminated at the edge of the cradle, to serve as braces and supports.

The cradle thus formed of a part of a barrel presents a very convenient concave form on the inside for making a childs bed'for it to lie therein comfortably, and` the outside convex surface allows rockers c c, formed like ribs comformably to it, to be easily fastened on with nails or screws from the inside, which rockers extend but a triile,vif any, beyond the line of the exterior of the cradle, and are therefore not in the way, as the rockers of ordinary squaresided cradles are, while they serve perfectly for oscillation, without making the cradle liable to being upset.

As a barrel is one of the commonest articles, to be had everywhere cheaply, my improved barrel-cradle can be made by any person with extraordinary economy as compared with cradles as generally constructed of plank or sawed stuff by carpenters and cabinet-makers. The hoops at the ends serve as handles to lift the cradle about from place to place, and as itis very light this is done very easily. The hoops projecting over the cradle also serve an admirable purpose as testers, for` holding a mosquito-bar or other light porous material above the cradle, for the protection of the child while sleeping from the attacks of ilies or mosquitoes.

For families living in the country, distant from townsiand mechanics, my improved barrel-cradle is admirably suited.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, 'and desire to sec-ure by Letters Patent, is-

A childs cradle, A, formed of a barrel, with the hoops b b projecting over the ends, and the rib-shaped rockers c c lying close underneath, arranged substantially as described.

D. A. IDUNHAM. Witnesses:

J. A. JErPNYs, Y H. L. HART. 

